My Casey

With his hands on her full hips, he moved slowly, taking his time, wanting her to be as close as possible. She wound her hands around his neck and held onto him.

“This is nice,” she said. “Slow, easy.”

“I’m all about slow and easy.”

She laughed. “You’re sweet.”

“I try.”

He was tense.

“You don’t like to dance?” she asked.

“I’m not very good at it. I’m terrified of stepping on your toes.”

“Don’t be. Just look at me, focus, and if you step on my toes, I won’t worry about it.” She held onto him, needing his support.

His hands stayed on her hips, but he did relax, staring into her brown gaze. He could do this.

The moment he stepped on her toes, he saw. She winced and laughed.

“Calm down. I’m fine. So I’ll have a few squished toes. No big deal.”

“You’re incredible, you know that?”

“Rusty, you don’t really know me.”

“I know you. I know you, and I want you.” He saw the surprise in her gaze. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“It’s fine. Really, fine. You’re being honest, and I can accept that.”

“I don’t want this to be awkward.”

“It’s not. Believe me, it’s not even a teeny tiny bit.”

“You’re not nervous?”

“A little, but knowing you want me, it doesn’t make anything complicated.”

The song ended and changed to an upbeat tempo. He couldn’t help but groan, and she laughed.

“Don’t be so worried all the time.” She spun, giving him her back. “Just because the music has changed, doesn’t mean we have to change with it.”

He held onto her, keeping her as close as he could as he danced with her. He didn’t want to let her go.

As he breathed in her scent, she was amazing. There was no doubt in his mind that he couldn’t let her go, not a second time.

She hadn’t belonged to him back then. He had lost his chance by not chasing after her, but he wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

Casey Jones was going to belong to him, and he vowed right here, on this dance floor where he couldn’t make a single good move, that he was going to give her every single reason to stay.

Unable to resist, he banded his arms around her waist, pressed his face against her neck, and just basked in being able to hold her.

Yes, he’d rushed to make her his, to stake a claim, and at Cole’s, he pretty much made sure that most of the single men knew Casey was his. By bringing her here, he’d made sure they all knew he was the one intent on taking her as his own.

They could make this work.

First, he was going to make sure she could write, and if that meant keeping everyone away, he would do it, even himself.

“See, you’re getting the hang of it,” she said.

He was still moving from side to side, but the true magic was in his feelings for this woman.

They were never going to disappear and were only going to get stronger.

Chapter Four

Complete with bag on shoulder, a lunchbox, nervous stomach, and just scared that she was making a big mistake, Casey left her home. After her date last night, Rusty had been the perfect gentleman, bringing her back home to her parents with a chaste kiss. She’d expected to go to his place, have some fun, but he hadn’t done what she expected.

Her mother had wanted to know the entire details over breakfast. Her father had left, going to work, and now, she was heading to work, in a way.

Working at Rusty’s shop so she could try to write.

All she wanted to do was run away, but she found herself walking to his place. The metal gates were already open, and she saw that he did indeed open at six in the morning. It was close to nine when she arrived.

He was bent over the hood of a car, looking at something and was in his mechanic scrubs. It looked like he’d already wiped grease down his left ass cheek, which made her giggle.

The instant she made a sound, he turned and smiled.

“You slept in?”

“No. I didn’t sleep in. Mom wanted to know everything, and well, I didn’t run away from the hundred and one questions.” She shrugged. “Here I am.”

“I got your desk all set up. When you didn’t arrive, I wasn’t sure if you took my offer seriously.”

“I did take your offer seriously. I was just a little nervous, I guess.” She followed him into the office, and sure enough there was one pristine desk waiting for her. It looked like it hadn’t been used by anyone, and seeing it, she felt touched he’d done this. “You didn’t have a spare desk, did you? You went out and bought this?”

“I got it from my place. I like to make things in my spare time, and this beauty hasn’t been purchased by anyone. You could just say thank you, and we can leave it at that.”